Five Reasons You Should Be Buying Vintage & Antique Jewellery

The ever growing numbers of sustainable-savvy shoppers are looking for brands to be accountable for their environmental and social impact.  When it comes to sustainable jewellery, nothing beats purchasing a vintage piece of jewellery. Read on to find out why!

1. Sustainability and ethical choice.
   By breaking the cycle of jewellery production you instantly reduce your carbon footprint - beside some repairs and minor sizing, no new resources are required for vintage jewellery pieces. This makes a second-hand engagement ring the greenest option out there. After all what could be more sustainable than extending the life of existing jewellery?
   
2. It's unique, in style and value.
   With vintage pieces, there’s no need to compromise on quality or beauty. Antique and vintage jewellery offers character, authenticity and style that is very difficult to recreate using modern production methods- such as pierced openwork galleries, carved shanks, and calibré cut accent stones. Antique jewellery tells the story of another time and place and it can be fun to imagine who wore it in the past, where it’s been. What’s not to love about the fact it has lived a fabulous varied life before it became yours?
   
3. No Fat Cats involved.
   When you buy a piece of jewellery with history, you’re supporting a local business instead of a big corporation - always a plus! Always try to show support for small businesses in favour of lining the pockets and fuelling the exploitation of mass-produced production lines.
   
4. Investment.
   Modern jewellery is simply valued based upon how much the metal and gemstones are worth separately on the wholesale market.- and it's nothing to do with the brand name that you paid for! If you’ve ever tried to sell a piece of secondhand jewellery, you were probably shocked at how little you were offered for it. Antique or vintage pieces are often more than the sum of their parts because it is a 'one of', and will only age beautifully in its historical value, with its outstanding workmanship and elegant aesthetics. Like a vintage car compared to a basic modern runaround - the runaround loses half its value the moment you drive it away from the forecourt, a well cared for vintage car always has a demand and buyer waiting!
   
5. Keeping it safe.
   There's a future generation who will love and treasure your jewellery in years to come. Whether it becomes your own family heirloom or an investment for a time ahead, with your care it can continue to bring unique joy for many more years to come.